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Project Details

Fabric 1

Valmex FR900 Mehatop
Producer/Manufacturer: Mehler Texnologies GmbH
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Engineer Company 1
Maffeis Engineering

Design Company
Maffeis Engineering

Architect Company
Gianni Ranaulo

Fabrication Company
Taiyo Europe GmbH

Subcontractor Company
Taiyo Europe GmbH

Project Manager Company
Taiyo Europe GmbH

Installation Company
Taiyo Europe GmbH

Please describe the project specifications

Mon Beau Buchelay is a new shopping center by Compagnie de Phalsbourg in the city of Buchelay, near Paris (France). A key feature of this project is its 1.200m long PVC-coated polyester tension membrane canopy, with 12.500 sq.m. surface area, which cantilevers from the facade of the building, interconnecting its almost 100 stores and more the 1.200 parking spaces spread on a mall floor area of 40.000 sq.m.
The canopy structure is characterized by a sequence of cantilever curved steel beams integrated by 830 tensioned PVC-coated polyester membrane panels, being 540 of them in unique shapes.
Our company was commissioned with the design development, shop drawings, engineering, fabrication and installation of the complete tensioned membrane system. Originally partially opened in 2019, due to the Pandemic the conclusion of the canopy project has been achieved on May.22

What is unique or complex about the project?

The project's size, material selection and location fit perfectly our company portfolio. However, its technical beauty and complex geometry led us to finally take it onboard.
The project complexity is expressed not only by the overall variable geometry of the canopy, but also by its detailing. The architect’s design intent was to have the canopy’s panels visually separated, while not showing any type of clamping and ensuring water tightness (without closures).
Consequently, our engineering and construction team were required to develop a structural but yet discrete clamping system which blends itself with the structure, ensuring aesthetical compliance to the project intent, structural resistance, watertightness, speed of installation and easiness of maintenance.
This combination of a new connection system, along with the multitude of different panels required to be individually patterned to shape (540 unique out of 830 total panels) set this project apart from others we did this past year.

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